Francisco de Orellana

He was friends with another explorer, Francisco Pizarro, who was born in the same town as him and possibly even a relative. In 1540, he went across the Atlantic Ocean to South America.

Pizarro had told him to find land to the west for cinnamon, which was considered a rare treasure. While on his quest, he discovered and explored the entire Amazon River. He also went looking for gold in the near the Andes mountains, and coincidentally ended up finding the cinnamon that Pizarro was talking.

He died in November 1546. Several things were named after him after his death, including a province in Ecuador, and at one point, the Amazon River (was called the Orellana River).